Elevator safety or emergency appliance.



C; SCOTT & A. SUNDH. 1

ELEVATOR SAFETY R EMERGENCY APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED 02c. 22, .19os.-

1,1 34,765. Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

k T 62 6 2 W #3 z w 33 22 THE NORRIS PETERS CO. FHDTG-LITHQ. WASHINGTON. D C.

cfscoTT & AISUNDH.

ELEVATOR SAFETY 0R EMERGENCY APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED 050.22, 1908.

1,1 34,765. Y Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

4 sums-sum 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. FHOTO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON, D. C.

C. SCOTT & A. SUNDH.

ELEVATOR SAFETY 0R vEMERGENCY APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 22, T908.

1, 1 34,765. Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

4 SHEBTS-8HEET 3.

C. SCOTT & A. SUNDH.

ELEVATOR SAFETY OR EMERGENCY APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 22, 1908.

1 ,1 34,765. Patented'Apr. 6, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4. Fi i 1% am-WM; I yfliw [HE NORRIS PETERS Coy, PHOTO-LITf-la. WASHINGTON, 1.14 y.

UNITED STATES PATENT ormcn.

CAMPBELL SCOTT AND AUGUST SUNDH, OF YONKERS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

ELEVATOR SAFETY OR EMERGENCY APPLIANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 22, 1908. S..ria11\To. 468,826.

have invented a new and useful Improve ment in Elevator Safety or Emergency Appliances, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to an improvement in elevator safety or emergency appliances more particularly designed for that class of elevators which have car switch control, and one of the objects of the invention is. to provide the elevator operator with a simple and ready means for quickly applying the car safeties in case of an emergency.

A further object is to provide an improved apparatus of this character which may be controlled either at the will of the elevator operator, or by automatic means.

For the. attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects, the invention consists in the features of novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts, hereinafter more fully described, and claimed in the appended claims.

The present well known car safety or emergency devices are usually applied by pulling a rope or lever, or turning a hand wheel. In case of car switch control, it is therefore necessary for the operator when applying the emergency to release the car switch, and then to grasp the lever or rope. In our improvement no such rope, wheel or lever is used, and the safety devices are operated by the same handle which operates the car switch contacts.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is; a sectional view of an ordinary car switch with the usual electrical contacts, and'provided with an auxiliary hand lever and a cam at the rear of the switch; Fig. 2 is a detail section showing a slight modification of Fig. 1, doing away with the auxiliary hand lever; Fig. 8 is a detail plan view on the line 38 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4: is a plan view of the switch contacts and contact maker; Fig. 5

or emergency device; Fig.8 is a detail arrangement of the releasing carrying device; Fig. 9 1s a side sect onal view of the releasmg carrylng devlce the releasing cam and the governingropes; Fig. 10 is a view of the automatic safety governor, and Fig. 11

is a diagrammatic view of an elevator in stallation to which this invention is applied,

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

with the electric controlling and operating;

circuits for the motor.

Injour, invention an auxiliary handlever 1s provlded, which, when it is desired to apply the emergency device, is caused to return to a central position by being released from the main lever, thereby breaking electrical connection to the motor, while the main hand lever operates a cam to re lease the emergency device.

The car switch box 2is secured to the base-board 1, usually a side of the elevator car. The shaft 4 extends through the car switch box 2, and at one extremity, which is preferably reduced in diameter to form a shoulder 7, is a cam 5 secured to the shaft by means of a key 6. The other extremity of the shaft 4 projects through thefront or the car switch box 2, and a hand lever 8 is keyed to the reduced portion 9 of the shaft by akey 10 and further secured to the shaft by means of a nut 12 and washer 11 on the threaded extremity 13, holding the switch lever 8 against the shoulder 14.

l/Nithin the box'2 is a plate 22 of insulat- 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 insulated from each other by insulating material 22 are secured to the plate 22 by fastenings 23, 24, 25 which extend through the plate 22 and also form a means for electrical connection .to each of the said contact strips at the rear of the plate 22.

Rotatably mounted on the shaft 4 is a sleeve member 28 which extends in front of the cover plate 3, and .to which the auxiliary hand lever or arm 30 is attached, and within the box 2 is a projection 29 of this sleeve member 28, to which the contactcarrying arm 31 is secured. The arm 30 .is pivoted to sleeve member 28 by a pivot 38 extending through the bifurcations 39 of said arm 30. A spring 37 secured to the member 28 by screws 40 tends to hold the arm 30 in a groove 36 of the projection 41 at the back of hand lever 8. The contact carrying arm 31 is secured to the projection 29 of the sleeve member 28 by a fastening device 35 and insulated from said projection by insulation 34. The contact carrying arm 31 has two cylindrical portions 42, 43, bored out on their under side to receive the contact pieces 32, 33 which are held against the contact strips by means of the springs 44, 45. The reduced portions 46, 47 of the contact pieces 32, 33 project through the portions 42, 43, thereby steadying the contact pieces 32, 33, and a conductor 49 secured to 46, 47by screws 48 electrically connects the said contact pieces.

t is evidentthat, ordinarily, the moving of hand lever 8 will carry with it the auxiliary hand lever 30 and thus cause the contact pieces to move over the contacts (15 to 21) as desired. But if by any means the auxiliary lever 30 is released from the hand lever 8, the spring 50 will cause the auxiliary lever 30 to return to a central position, when the motor circuits will be opened, and the handle 8 may be pressed down so that the cam 5 at the back of the box 2 will cause the safety devices to be operated as hereinafter set forth. The coil spring 50 surrounds the sleeve member 28 and the two ends 52, 53 project on opposite sides of the pins 51 and 54 securely fixed to the box 2 and the sleeve member 28, respectively. Thus it may be seen that the spring 50 is adapted to bring the contact arm 31 back t o a central position from any other position.

a corresponding depression between the pro-' jectirns 41 on the hand lever 8. Another shoulder within the cover plate 3 has a projection 38 which, when the sleeve 30 is rotated a suthcient distance in either direction from its central position, strikes the beveled portion 39 on the cover plate 3 which forces the projection 37 out of ent a ement with the de ression 43 in the hand lever 8. The spring operates in a manner as previously described to return the contact carrying arm to a central position. The spring 40 is adapted to press against the sleeve 30 to keep the projection 37 in engagement with the hand lever 8, and the shoulders 36, 45 limit the longitudinal movement of the sleeve on the member 28 by their engagement with the cover plate 3. The further turning of the handle 8 will apply the emergency device as hereinafter describe-d. When the construction with the auxiliary hand lever or arm 30 is used, two lugs 55, 56 are so disposed on the cover plate 3 that they will engage the beveled ears 57 or 58 and cause the arm 30 to be released from the hand lever 8 when it is pressed firmly against either lug or 56, the spring 50 causing the auxiliary handie 30 to return to its central position. The projections 59, 60 on the handle 8 are preferably beveled so that the arm 30 may be readily reengaged in the groove 36 in the hand lever 8. The positions taken by the hand lever 8 and the arm 30 immediately after the engagement of the arm 30 with either lug 55 or 56 is shown by the dotted outlines of Fig. 6. The hand lever 8 is usually provided with some suitable grip 61 secured at 62 to said hand lever.

Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, a bracket 63 is firmly secured to the board 1 by means of bolts 64. This bracket is formed with bearing lugs 85 in which are mounted for longitudinal movement rods 87 provided with heads 84. A releasable member or block 65 is held between the heads 84 bymeans of the lugs or projections 83 on said block engaging the corresponding recesses formed in the heads 84. Coil springs 82 surrounding the rods 87 between the heads 84 and the lugs 85, and, held in position by the extensions 86 formed on said lugs, hold the block 65 securely in the bracket 63. A governor rope 69 has its ends secured at 66 and 67 to the block 65 and passes over the sheaves 99 and 122 located at the top and bottom of the elevator shaft, respectively. A stationary rope or rod 70 having its ends secured at the top and bottom of the elevator shaft extends through an opening 68 in the outer end of the block 65. A slidable clamping member 73 havin its outer end flat or rectangular in shape is mounted for movement longitudinally in the block 65 and is formed with an opening 68 normally in line with the opening 68. The inner portion of the sliding member 73 is cylindrical in form and provided at its extremity with a head The coil spring 72 in a recess 71 surrounds the member 73 and bears at its ends against the head 75 and the block 65. he member 73 is normally held in position against the tension of the spring by means of a lev r 78 pivoted to the block 65 at 77. and carrying at its inner end a cam roller 76 which bears against the head 75. the opening 68 is recessed and formed with serrations or teeth 79 to form a gripping surface for engagement with the rope 70. The sliding member 73 has a corresponding gripping surface 80 opposite the teeth 79. When the switch lever is moved in either The inner surface of gralwith them, are the notched portions direction a sufiicient distance to release the auxiliary lever 30, and thereby cut off the current supply to the motor, the cam 5 engages the lever 78 and rotates it about its pivot so as to lift the roller 76. The spring 72 now operates to move the sliding member inwardly and grip the stationary rope 70. The shape of the gripping surfaces is such as to slightly bend the rope and insure a firm grip thereon. As the car is moving down, the releasable member or block 65 will immediately be pulled away from the bracket 63, the springs 82 permitting the heads 84 to be separated sufficiently to release the block 65. This effects the operation of the safety device shown in Fig. 7 as hereinafter explained. The inner end of the block 65 normally rests on the bracket 63, so that when the cam 5 engages the lever 78 the latter is positively operated; that is, the end of the block 65 bearing against the bracket prevents said block from swinging about the bearings 83 as a pivot. When the roller 76 is moved upward a slight distance, the spring 72 will operate to complete the movement of said lever, as the beveled surface 81 formed in said head will engage the roller and quickly swing the lever 78 in a substantially vertical position.

The safety stop device which is preferably of a well known type as shown in Fig. 7, is located under the elevator car, and comprises a drum 88 upon which a safety rope 89 is wound. This safety rope 89 is secured to the governor rope 69bymeans of clamp plates 90 and bolts 91. The right and left-handed nuts 92, 93 are keyed to the drum .88 and have the threaded bolts 94, 95 mounted in them. The outer ends of the bolts 94, 95 are provided with rollers 96, and when the bolts move outwardly the rollers 96 engage the levers 97 causing the guide rails 98 to be gripped and the car stopped. The governor rope 69 also passes over the grooved pulley wheel 99 at the top of the hatchway, and the gear 100 carried by the wheel 99 engages the bevel gear 101 on the governor shaft 102. The action of this governor is automatic to stop the elevator when the speed becomes too great. The rotation of the governor shaft causes the governor balls 103 to fiy out, carrying with them the arms 104 and lifting the member 105 to which the arms 104 are attached. When the speed of the governor reaches a prescribed limit, the arm 106 is pulled up wardly by this well known governor mechanism and rotates the lever 107 which is keyed at 108 to the toothed member 109. Pivoted at 111 and engaging with the toothed member 109 is a similar member 110. Secured to members 109, 110, or inte- 112 which are adapted to grasp the governor rope 69 firmly when the governor operates to lift the arm 106. This action produces the same effect as turning the cam 5, as previously explained, since the motion of the governor rope 69 will be arrested, the member 65 will be displaced from the bracket 63, and the safety rope 89 will unwind from the drum 88,causing the same to revolve, which will in turn cause the levers 97 to grip the guide rails 98 as previously described. 0

Fig. 11 shows the arrangement of an elevator system in which the elevator car 113 is suspended from a pulley 114 by a rope 115 passing over another pulley 116 and to a winding drum 117, and having a backdrum' counterweight 118 to partly balance the weight of the car 113. The motor 119 has an electromagnetic brake device. 121, and is connected with the drum 117 by means of the shaft 120 and other suitable mechanism.

the governor rope passes over the pulley 122 r at the bottom and pulley 99 at the top. The

automatic governor is shown at the top and x the safety rope 89 is attached at 90 to the governor rope 69, and passes over the drum 88 beneath the elevator car 113. When the car switch-lever is turned to the left to the first position, circuits are completed through the field and armature of the motor 119' when he switch 123 is closed to the supply. The control circuit is traced from the main 124 to wire 126, through contacts 15, 32,16 of the car switch to wire 127, through relay 128 of the reversing switch R and wire 129 to the other main 125. Energizing the relay 128 draws up the core 130 having the extension 138 to which is attached the contact bar 137 and the insulated bar 139 with contacts 133, 134 secured to it. When the core 130 is drawn up, the contacts complete'circuits to the field and armature of the motor. The field circuit is from main 124, wires 140, 141 to the motorfield, thence through wires 142, 143 to contact 135, contact bar 137, contact 136, wires 144, 145 to main 125. The armature circuit is closed from main 124 to contacts 132, 134, wire 146, resistance 147 from a to a, wire 148, through the motor armature, wire 150, contacts133, 131 to main 125. A further movement of the car switch to the left brings the contact 33 into engagement with the strip 18, and a circuit is formed from the main 124, through wire 126, car switch contacts, wire 151,.solen'oid. 152, wire 158, to main 125. This draws up the core 159 of the solenoid 152, short circuiting a portion a b of the resistance 147, from wire 148, through .wire 156, contacts 154, 155, contact bar 153, wire 157 to the reenergizes the solenoid 161, drawing up the core 162, so that the contact bar 166 connects contacts 164, 165, thus short-circuiting the starting resistance 147. The switch contact with segment 18 being broken, the core 159 of solenoid 152 releases the contact bar 153, the circuit around the resistance 147 then being from wire 148 through wires 156, 168, contacts 164, 165, contact bar 166, wire 167, to wire 146. When it is desired to operate the motor 119 in the reverse direction, the handle member 30 is turned in the opposite direction and contact is made with segment 17 to complete a circuit from the main 124 through wire 126, switch contacts including segment 17, wire 168, solenoid 169 of reversing switch R, wire 129, to main 125. This draws up the core 170 which is similar in construction to core 130, having the contact bar 171 uniting contacts 172, 17 3, and the insulating bar 178 carrying contacts 174, 175 which make connections with 176, 177. When this latter core 170 is drawn up, current flows through the field windings in the same direction as previously designated while the armature circuit is reversed, thus changing the'direction of rotation of the motor. The solenoids 152, 161 are energized and act in the same way as previously described to out out the starting resistance 147 as the motor speeds up. The field circuit is then traced from main 124, wires 140, 141, to the field windings, thence through wires 142, 179, contacts 172, 173, contact bar 171, wires 180, 145, to main 125. The reversed armature circuit is as follows,from main 124, through wire 140, contacts 176, 174, wires 181, 150, to the motor armature, thence through wires 148, 156, 163, contacts 164, 165, contact bar 166, wires 167, 146, 182, to contacts 17 5, 177, thence through wire 183 to main 125.

It is evident that in order to stop the m0.- tor 119, it is necessary that the main and controlling circuits be broken, and this is accomplished when the contact arm is in a cen tral position. It has been described in detail how this improved car switch automatically accomplishes the return of the contact arm to the central or neutral position and how the further forcing down of the handle applies the emergency device for stcppingthe car. With this improved emergency device, there is no loss of time in applying the same, as there would be where the car safety device is operated by a separate rope, wheel or lever.

Various means can be devised for mechanically applying the safety device, the means shown being one of the simplest. \Ve wish not to be restricted to the exact con struction and arrangement as herein shown, as it is evident that other constructions, combinations and arrangements of the several parts might readily be employed without departing from the nature and scope of our invention.

JVhat we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with an elevator car, of an electric motor and circuit connections therefor, car brake mechanism, a governor rope operatively connected thereto, a stationary rope a car switch, and means for operatively connecting the governor rope to the stationary rope, from the car switch.

2. The combination with anelevator car, of an electric motor and circuit connections therefor, car brake mechanism secured to the car, a bracket on the car, a member releasably held by the bracket, a governor rope secured to the releasable member, a stationary rope, means for operatively connecting the stationary rope to the car brake mechanism, a car switch, and mechanism for operating the last name-i means from the car switch.

3. The combination with an elevator car, of an electric motor, circuit connections therefor, car brake mechanism secured to the car, a bracket on the car, a member releasably held by the bracket, a governor rope secured to the releasable member, a xed rope, means associated with the releasable member for gripping the fixed rope, a car switch, and mechanism for operating the last named means from the car switch.

4. Thecombination with an elevator car, of an electric motor, circuit connections therefor, car brake mechanism secured to the car, a governor rope, a bracket on the car, a member to which the governor rope is attached releasably secured on the bracket, sa] 1- member being formed with an opening, a fixed rope passed through said opening,

means associated with said member for grip- A ping the fixed rope, a car switch, and means associated with said switch for controlling the operation of the said gripping means.

5. The combination with an elevator car,

of an electric motor, circuit connections therefor, car brake mechanism, a governor rope, a bracket on the car, a member to which the governor rope is attached releasably held by the bracket, another member slidable in the first named member, a fixed rope extending through openings in the two members, jaws disposed in the said members for gripping the fiXed rope, a car switch, and means for effecting the operation of said gripping means from the car switch to apply the brake mechanism.

6. The combination with an elevator car, of an electric motor, circuits and connections therefor, brake mechanism, a fixed rope,

clamping jaws, a spring to operate said Jaws to clutch the rope, means to operate the brake mechanism when the rope is clutched, means for holding the spring in position with the jaws released, a car switch, and operating connections between the car switch and said holding means for operating the latter to release the spring and effect the operation of the brake when the car switch is operated.

7. The combination with an elevator car, of an electric motor, circuit connections therefor, car brake mechanism, a fixed rope, a device for gripping the fixed rope, means associated with said gripping device for operating the brake mechanism, a spring for applying said gripping device, a lever for releasing the spring to operate the said. gripping device, a car switch, and means associated with the car switch for operating the said lever to release the spring.

8. The combination with an elevator car, of an electric motor, circuit connections therefor, a car switch, a car brake mechanism, a fixed rope, means for gripping the fixed rope, a lever for controlling the said gripping means, means operatively connected with the gripping means for operating the car brake mechanism, a cam, and means in connection with the car switch for applying the cam to the lever to operate the latter.

9. The combination with an elevator car, an electric motor operatively connected therewith, controlling circuits for the motor, a switch in the car comprising a hand lever, an auxiliary lever, a spring for releasably holding the latter in connection with the hand lever, contacts associated with said auxiliary lever and with the controlling circuits of the motor, a brake carried by the elevator car, and means associated with the said car switch for effecting the operation of the said brake.

10. The combination with a hand lever, of an auxiliary lever, the two levers comprising manually operable parts of an electric switch, a motor controlled by said switch, means for holding the two levers normally together, means for automatically releasing one lever from the other, an elevator car. a car brake. and means for applying the car brake to the car by continued rotation of one of the said levers. V

11. The combination with a shaft, of a hand lever and a cam secured thereto, an auxiliary lever releasablv connected with the first named lever. the said levers comprising the manually controlled parts of an electric switch. a motor controlled by said switch. a brake mechanism controlled by the said cam. and means for releasing the said auxiliarv lever when it is desired to operatively apply the cam to the said brake mechanism.

12. The combination with a shaft, of a hand lever secured thereto. contact segments and circuit connections therefor, a contact arm movable on said segments, the precedlng elements comprising parts of an electric switch, an elevator car, a brake mechanism secured thereto, means associated with the switch for operating the brake mechanism, means for moving the contact arm from a central position, and means for returning the contact arm tothe central position before the brake mechanism operating means is operated.

13. The combination of an electric motor, a controlling device therefor, an automatic emergency car stop device, and connections between the latter and the controlling de vice. V

1 1. In an elevator, the, combination of a car. a motor, a controller for the motor carried by the car, a running rope releasably connected to the car, a car safety device, connections for operating said device by movement of the car relative to said rope, a standing rope, a gripping device carried by the running rope and operable to grip the standing rope, and means operable by the said controller for effecting the operation of said gripping device. 7

15. In an elevator, the combination of a car, a running rope, a standing rope. means carried by the running rope for gripping the standing rope. a device carried by the car for effecting the-operation of said gripping means and a car safety device operativelv associated with said rope.

16. The combination of an elevator car, a running rope. a gripping device carried by said rope and releasably connected to the car, a standing member cooperat ng with the gripping device. a trip holding said gripping device in released position. means carried b the car to operate said trip. and a car safety device operatively connected to the said running rope- 17. In an elevator. the combination of a car. a car safetv device. an electric motor. a a

controller switch. connections between said safetv device and switch, said switch being operable bv a continuous movement to establish circuits for the motor. and then to open said circuits and operate the car safety de 1 vice.

In testimony whereof. we havesigned our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CA MPRFLL QUOTT. AUGUST SUNDH.

Witnesses:

EDWARD A. FITCH, J OB FIsH, J r.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

